Transport Cabinet Secretary James Macharia has opened up about intricate details that preceded his appointment into President Uhuru Kenyatta's Cabinet in April 2013.
In a sit-down with Citizen TV on Monday, December 28, Macharia, who was among the first 18 CSs to be appointed into the Cabinet, revealed that he ignored the Head of State's initial phone call.
At the time, he worked as CEO of a Kenyan bank that had a subsidiary in Tanzania when he was when he received a call inviting him to serve in the Cabinet.
"Somebody called me and told me that 'we have been asked to get some good CVs and I think you have a good one. Can you forward to us the same day.' I quickly updated it on my laptop and sent it to the gentlemen but I didn't think about it again.
"The day I was called, a few politicians had been calling me because I think a few rumours were going out. When I was called, it was still a shock. I never believed it would happen. I was having lunch at Fairview Hotel with some clients. When it was served, the call came so I had to leave the lunch because the President asked 'Where are you?'" Narrated Macharia.
Macharia explained that on the big day, he was having lunch at Fairview Hotel near State House when an unfamiliar number called him.
Initially, he did not pick the call but later received a call asking him to respond.
"They called on a landline. The call came and I ignored it because I did not know the number and I was having clients. Then I got a message saying, 'Can you please pick the call when it comes next.'
"When it came, it was the President's secretary on the line and put through to the President and as they say, the rest is history," added Macharia.
When he rushed to State House, he was redirected to a waiting room where he met three other soon-to-be Cabinet Secretaries Amina Mohammed (Sports), Fred Matiang'i (Interior) and Henry Rotich (former Treasury Ministry.
While there, he was subjected to an interview by the President and his deputy William Ruto and was offered the Health docket.
For Macharia, making the leap from the private sector to public service was a no brainer although he would have to accept an 80 per cent reduction in his monthly earnings.
He noted that public service involved making a sacrifice to the people of Kenya and unlike the private sector where profit margins and investor returns are king.
"When I joined, my salary dropped to 20 per cent from what I was getting from the bank. A slash of 80 per cent. I balanced on the fact that it was a chance of a lifetime to serve. Frankly, even if it was 10 per cent, I was still going to join government," he stated matter of factly.
Macharia is among only six CSs who have been in the Cabinet since 2013. Others are Fred Matiang'i, Raychelle Omamo, Adan Mohamed, Amina Mohammed, Najib Balala.
